Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 863320 search inquires.

Selected title: First Strike
Explanation: An unofficial term referring to a coin struck shortly after a new die is put into use. Such coins often have prooffike surfaces and resemble proof, in certain (but not all) characteristics. Resurfaced previously-used dies sometimes also have these characteristics
Explanation: A grading service term used by PCGS, NGC, and other grading services. It indicates the coin was in one of the first groups of coins shipped by the US mint. PCGS and NGC will seal the coin in their "First Strike" plastic slab holder with the words " First Strike" inside the PCGS holder

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 52828 14.53%
Silver Clad 30240 8.31%
Coin Silver 22240 6.12%
Slabbed Coins 21110 5.80%
BN 20479 5.63%
Encapsulated Coin 19970 5.49%
RB 18899 5.20%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 16284 4.48%
PF (PF60, PF70) 15767 4.34%
Reeded Edge 15040 4.14%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 14991 4.12%
PQ 13808 3.80%
MS (MS60-MS70) 13687 3.76%
PR (PR60, PR70) 13641 3.75%
Rarity 13285 3.65%
Incuse 12677 3.49%
High Relief 12563 3.45%
Coin drop 12417 3.41%
Reverse Cameo 11923 3.28%
Obverse or Face side 11818 3.25%